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When How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) concluded its last episode in 2014, it put an end to one of TV’s most popular ensemble comedies. It spanned nine seasons, chronicling the escapades of Ted Mosby and his tight-knit circle of friends—Robin, Marshall, Lily, and Barney—tackling love, professional aspirations, and the vagaries of life in New York City. The HIMYM finale created heated arguments among fans, but one thing was certain: these characters had an enduring mark on pop culture.
More than a decade down the line, fans’ interest in the HIMYM characters hasn’t dwindled. People keep watching the show again, repeat its classic dialogue, and ask: where are the HIMYM characters today, both in the imaginary world and the real one? In this special, we look at where Ted, Robin, Marshall, Lily, and Barney would be today, and how we dive into what the incredibly talented actors who played them are up to now in their careers. From Broadway productions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the HIMYM actors have all gone on to do great things—and so have the characters themselves in fans’ imaginations and hearts.
Whether you’re a die-hard HIMYM fan or a new viewer who’s just discovering the show for the first time, this in-depth special provides a fulfilling catch-up on the lovable gang from MacLaren’s Pub.
HIMYM character update: Where is Ted Mosby now?
HIMYM’s Ted Mosby in-universe: Life after telling the story
Ted Mosby, the lovably romantic architect at the heart of HIMYM, closed the iconic series by revealing the identity of the mother and eventually rekindling his relationship with Robin. Now, in a post-HIMYM universe, fans like to imagine Ted enjoying family life with Penny and Luke, while juggling architectural gigs and perhaps even teaching again. He remains in New York, splitting his time between parenting and finally publishing a memoir about love, loss, and friendship, inspired by the HIMYM journey.
HIMYM star Josh Radnor: From sitcom fame to indie stardom
Josh Radnor, who played Ted in HIMYM, has pivoted toward a multifaceted creative career. Post-HIMYM, he starred in “Hunters” (2020–2023) alongside Al Pacino, and appeared in the 2023 Broadway revival of The Seagull. A writer and musician, Radnor is one-half of the folk duo “Radnor & Lee” and continues to create introspective content far removed from his HIMYM alter ego.
HIMYM character update: What is Robin Scherbatsky doing now?
HIMYM’s Robin Scherbatsky in-universe: News anchor turned global correspondent
After the HIMYM finale, Robin Scherbatsky’s career as a news anchor took center stage. Fans envision her becoming a world-traveling journalist, covering political hotspots and producing hard-hitting documentaries. Robin lives part-time in New York and part-time abroad, balancing her professional acclaim with rekindled feelings for Ted, as hinted in the final scene of HIMYM.
HIMYM actress Cobie Smulders: Action, Marvel, and beyond
Cobie Smulders has enjoyed a post-How I Met Your Mother career packed with action roles. She returned as Maria Hill in several Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects, including the Disney+ series “Secret Invasion” (2023). In 2022, she led the Netflix show Friends from College and starred in High School, an acclaimed series based on the memoir by Tegan and Sara. How I Met Your Mother introduced her to a new level of visibility, but her career has grown exponentially in the years since.
HIMYM character update: Where is Marshall Eriksen now?
HIMYM’s Marshall Eriksen in-universe: From judge to Supreme Court dreams
Marshall Eriksen ended How I Met Your Mother as a judge, embracing his dream of a legal career that champions justice and ethics. In the show’s imagined continuation, Marshall climbs the judicial ladder, gaining recognition for his environmental advocacy and even becoming a contender for the New York Supreme Court. Still married to Lily, Marshall is also a devoted father to their three children and remains close with the How I Met Your Mother gang.
HIMYM favorite Jason Segel: Return to drama and heartfelt comedy
Jason Segel transitioned from How I Met Your Mother success to diverse roles in both comedy and drama. Notably, he created and starred in the Apple TV+ series Shrinking (2023), alongside Harrison Ford. Segel has also returned to independent film with The Sky Is Everywhere (2022) and continues to write screenplays and children’s books. How I Met Your Mother may have made him a household name, but Segel’s post-How I Met Your Mother portfolio shows his impressive range.
HIMYM character update: What is Lily Aldrin doing now?
HIMYM’s Lily Aldrin in-universe: Art, education, and motherhood
Lily Aldrin ended How I Met Your Mother as a mother and art consultant, but in the years since, fans imagine her returning to painting and launching an art therapy program for children. She and Marshall continue to raise their family while supporting one another’s evolving careers. Lily’s flair for style and nurturing spirit remain core to her character in the How I Met Your Mother legacy.
HIMYM icon Alyson Hannigan: From magic to motherhood
Alyson Hannigan, best known as Lily on How I Met Your Mother, kept a low profile after the series ended. She lent her voice to Disney’s Fancy Nancy and hosted Penn & Teller: Fool Us for multiple seasons. In 2023, she competed on Dancing with the Stars, charming audiences with her wit and charisma. HIMYM remains one of her most iconic roles, but Hannigan’s post-How I Met Your Mother life balances family and occasional acting gigs.
HIMYM character update: Where is Barney Stinson now?
HIMYM’s Barney Stinson in-universe: From playboy to responsible father
Barney Stinson shocked How I Met Your Mother fans in the finale with the birth of his daughter, Ellie. Since then, fans envision him embracing fatherhood in a way no one expected. Barney has mellowed, trading suits for strollers, but he hasn’t lost his charm. He might run a consulting business on the side, advising corporations with his trademark charisma—all while doting on Ellie and remaining the How I Met Your Mother gang’s wild card.
HIMYM star Neil Patrick Harris: Reinventing stardom, one role at a time
Neil Patrick Harris remains one of the most successful How I Met Your Mother alumni. Post-How I Met Your Mother, he starred in Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017–2019) and had notable roles in It’s a Sin, The Matrix Resurrections (2021), and Uncoupled (2022–2023). In 2024, he made headlines with a Broadway return in Peter Pan Goes Wrong. Harris continues to innovate, and his How I Met Your Mother legacy lives on through his eclectic and ever-evolving career.
HIMYM reboot rumors: Could the HIMYM characters return?
While How I Met Your Father, a How I Met Your Mother spinoff starring Hilary Duff, tried to capture the original’s magic, it was canceled after two seasons. Still, fans continue to speculate about a possible How I Met Your Mother revival. Whether it’s a reunion episode or a full-length How I Met Your Mother sequel series, the legacy of the show remains strong thanks to its unforgettable characters.
HIMYM legacy: Why fans still care about the HIMYM characters
A decade since How I Met Your Mother ended, fans remain invested in the fates of Ted, Robin, Marshall, Lily, and Barney. The How I Met Your Mother cast created timeless characters whose stories of friendship, love, and growing up resonate across generations. Whether fans are rewatching How I Met Your Mother on streaming platforms or following the actors’ latest projects, the How I Met Your Mother universe continues to live on in pop culture.
The HIMYM characters may have said goodbye in 2014, but their stories are far from over
Even though How I Met Your Mother ended over a decade ago, its characters are still as rich and endearing as the day they debuted, remaining in the hearts and minds of viewers worldwide. The long-running success of How I Met Your Mother is more than just an indicator of its clever dialogue or emotional storylines—it’s an illustration of the profound emotional investment that viewers made with Ted Mosby, Robin Scherbatsky, Marshall Eriksen, Lily Aldrin, and Barney Stinson.
Whether Ted’s constant changing path as an architect and writer, Robin’s continued ascension as a journalist, or Barney’s surprising transformation as a devoted father, HIMYM characters made a lasting contribution to pop culture. Each of them portrayed various phases of adulthood, from career aspirations to relationship detours, making their own story relatable and their development personal.
Since the How I Met Your Mother series finale was broadcast, the fans have gone on speculating about what happened to these beloved characters—giving rise to endless debates, fan theories, and even rumors of revivals. Meanwhile, the actual actors who played the How I Met Your Mother cast have embarked on new and intriguing projects in movies, TV shows, and the stage, continuing the legacy of the show in new and unforeseen directions.
In this exclusive feature, we catch up on each of the main How I Met Your Mother characters, look at what they could be doing today in the show’s universe, and shine a light on what their real-life equivalents are doing today. Because if How I Met Your Mother did teach us one thing, it’s that a truly great story never actually concludes.